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2024 – A Year in Mountains
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12munrobikerFree Member
I’m hope there might be one person who’s wondered where this post was – well, a little later than usual, here it is. I’d been waiting to sneak in a couple of hills between Christmas and New Year and managed that. In all, a year of fewer big hills than usual – I suffered a concussion last year after I was knocked off my bike by a loose dog and recovery didn’t really start until the spring. By then I was scrambling to get my fitness back and I focussed more on racing than usual this year. To make up for it, I’ve tried to go to some new places and ride new hills and not one has been a let down.
I had not one single view from a mountain top this year – I seemed to be permanently shrouded in clouds but, regardless, a day in the hills is nearly always good even if the photography isn’t.
Strathfarrar Round
Halfway between Loch Carron and the Moray Firth is Glen Strathfarrar, and on its north side are four Munros that make for a really spectacular ride. The first climb is long and boggy but once that’s over you stay up for a long time. The drops off the first three hills are short and interesting enough but the last descent is one of the all time greats – a sinew of singletrack clinging to a steep hillside with a few thrutchy moves for the first half before opening up into a fast, wide and rock trail that drops you back into the bottom of the Glen. Access is a bit complicated (a gate is opened by a gatekeeper between some fairly restrictive hours and only 20 cars are allowed in per day) but it’s worth it.
5munrobikerFree MemberBen Eighe Slabs
I know James Vincent from the mag has ridden the full Beinn Eighe loop including the Black Carls but as I was alone when I rode it I decided to do an out and back of the slabs descent on the north eastern flank, heading up towards Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past 700m safely – the route turned into a scramble and with cloud closing in I had to bail. Regardless, from this height the trail is thrilling – starting with expanses of greasy slabs of quartzite before becoming a trail proper with massive chunks of rock in a singletrack rut. The trail gets rough, in a way that reminded me of Goatfell on Arran. Lots of moments that take your breath away or have your heart in your mouth. I’d be intrigued to try the full route on a better day.
4munrobikerFree MemberTorridon “Full Bhuna”
I forgot my camera for this one but @bedmaker showed me his variation on the Annat Lollipop which climbs up the A896 before heading past the Ling Hut and through the pass between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh. This seemed a sensible way of doing it – it turns the route into a full circular, and more of the climb is rideable. And the descents are so worth it – long and switching between technical and fast. There’s no limits to the grip and you can trust everything your tyres land on. Here’s some older pics from the same spot.
6munrobikerFree MemberFisherfield Traverse
This was not an area I’d even considered riding before until I posted on here asking if anyone was up for a ride in the far north west and @felltop responded that he was trying to find an excuse to ride the Traverse that weekend. It’s part of the Highland Trail 550 loop. Felltop had fallen in love with the place so much he’d moved near it from the Lake District and the place is so stunningly beautiful that it’s a day I’ll remember forever. It feels very remote and very special – it’s probably the most affecting day in the mountains I’ve ever had. It helps that the trails are stunning – the descent back to Poolewe being a thrilling technical ride to start before opening up to flowing singletrack with a distracting view.
4munrobikerFree MemberBen Avon Via Glen Builg
@Sanny has raved about this option a few times on here and I was keen to see what it was like. Rather than one of the more common descents off Ben Avon via the Sneck, this route drops to the north east to the Linn of Avon. I started at Corgarff Castle and pedalled in to Glen Builg, then through Glen Gairn before climbing up the Sneck and Ben Avon. I love the top of Ben Avon – the tors remind me of the Peak District and it’s so expansive up there. Unfortunately, that’s the downfall of this ride – it’s a massive ride but all the descent is crammed into two kilometres, and even then, it’s not very interesting. It’s a nice place, and a good XC day out, but if you want the most fun and technical way off this hill, stick to the tried and tested options.
2munrobikerFree MemberBeinn Narnain
I’d tried Beinn Narnain once before, descending to the south east and it was a bit spicy. That was well over a decade ago so I revisited it and instead descended to the north west. This was a much better route – a very traditional Munro trail with loose gravel singletrack interspersed with big rocky features. It then joins the main route up to Beinn Ime and the Cobbler which is a brilliant bit of trail – well built, but without being sanitised, it’s fun and goes on for a long way. Speeds can be high but you need to pick your time – this route is always busy.
2munrobikerFree MemberThe Cobbler
A popular hill best attempted late in the day, the descent from 850m to 650m is very, very steep and made up of stone steps. It feels very artificial but it’s also very hard to stay on your bike. There’s one or two bits where riding is impossible but on the whole, this is a nice technical hill with some of the best views of any on a clear day (which we didn’t have). The rest of the descent is the same as the excellent one from Beinn Narnain.
5munrobikerFree MemberBen Lomond
I had half a day spare after a holiday and the weather was not truly awful in the southern Trossachs so I headed out for the most southerly Munro as a safe bet given the forecast further north. Despite snow rolling in, the trail was in great nick. This is also a busy hill so I headed up mid afternoon and played poker with the daylight. This turned out really nicely – I met no walkers as I rode down and could really let loose on this classic descent. It’s in three steps – a steep first section off the summit with some real serious tech, then a flatter open section with high speeds before a final flourish as the trail steepens again with some tight, slabby turns and big chunky rocks to get you home.
4munrobikerFree MemberHindscarth (or not)
Having successfully dabbled with twilight on Ben Lomond, a month later it won on Hindscarth. Conditions seemed good – dry, with light winds, so I thought it’d be a good opportunity to tackle this notoriously slippery Lakeland descent. Unfortunately, I’d underestimated how long it’d take and after a crash and too much larking about we called it as we started the climb up Dale Head and decided to descent early via the footpath between Dale Head and High Spy which drops to Newlands Beck. This was largely unrideable and while there are odd spots of flow, largely it was a good walk spoilt. Maybe next time.
5munrobikerFree MemberKitsuma, Bernard Mountain and Laurel Mountain
My in-laws are American and live in North Carolina, home to some of the best trails in the world in the Appalachian mountains. Basing myself in Asheville I spent a couple of days riding there over the Christmas break. This area was devastated after Storm Helene and roads, railway lines and houses had all been washed away. While I was there, tornadoes killed someone in the north of the state. However, the trails have been cleared by a dedicated group of volunteers who realise how important mountain biking is to the local economy.
The trails I rode were as good as ever – there were definite changes where trees had fallen or landslips had happened but the spirit of all the trails remained.
BBFull MemberHooray! My favourite thread of the year is back (I can’t say I was waiting on it, so it makes a pleasant surprise). Thanks for brightening up my afternoon.
bigdaddyFull MemberI was waiting for it! Every year I love this post and it inspires me to get out there. I’ve still not been to Scotland though and I must get there one day soon…
1SannyFree MemberHurrah. Wondered where this was! I was going to message you @munrobiker to make sure all was well as this is the thread I always look forward to.
I did Ben Avon again in June. We rode up the track on the western flank of Beinn a Bhuird which makes for much more of a ride. The descent to the sneck was a technical giggle.
I still love the descent off of Ben Avon but forgot just how much from the top is vague track and not clear singletrack. Pal Roddy loved it and Dave less so. It was warm, clear and still which meant we really soaked in the scenery. Lovely ride up the glen on the return leg south. We planned to head west up the valley to join the sneck but the wind through the glen had really picked up. The climb south was easy and the descent in the evening light was a treat despite being only a fire road. One of those rides that is more about sense of place and scenery than technical riding.
Cheers
Sanny
Ps Good to know to avoid the New lands Beck descent. Looked at it and thought nah!
munrobikerFree Member@Sanny – I can imagine it is more special when there’s a view! For me it was an hour and a half navigating by compass in a cloud…
SannyFree MemberThat totally changes things. The joy of up there is the scenery and going from tor to tor. Compass route finding without an easy path to follow tries ones patience. We were fortunate to be able to see for miles…..not that it helps you! I think you got all the cloudy days and I got all the sunny ones this year. Been concentrating on the Lakes and have been rewarded with some truly terrific days out. Fairfield Horseshoe in deep snow last January was incredible. Steeple in September without a breathe of wind another winner. Not a great descent until you hit Black Sail but in terms of setting and just sitting at the top of a mountain on your own bathed in early evening sun is hard to beat. That said, the western fells in April delivered the goods especially coming off of Haystacks on my own in the dark.
Cheers for writing this up. Always a highlight.
Sanny
1justinbieberFull MemberExcellent thread as always. Two things…
Don’t ever do the full Beinn Eighe ridge. It’s like south shiel ridge but with more rocks and less riding. Plus the black carls are properly scary. Some of the riding is amazing, and it’s a great adventure, but it’s just not worth it for me. The final descent is most definitely the highlight.
I agree that the descent back into the newlands valley off Dale Head is an utter ****. Did it earlier this year and wish we hadn’t. If you’ve not done hindscarth yet, find time to do it. Better still, let me know when you’re in the area and I’ll come join you. Oh, and if you ever find yourself that way again without time to do hindscarth, just turn round and do Maiden moor and hause gate, catbells, or the back of catbells
1munrobikerFree MemberDon’t ever do the full Beinn Eighe ridge. It’s like south shiel ridge but with more rocks and less riding.
Noted – don’t fancy that!
Better still, let me know when you’re in the area and I’ll come join you.
Will do! This was an old mates get together otherwise I would have done, naturally.
Ps North Carolina looks amazing. Feel free to share more pics.
I would but I’m trying to get an article in the mag off the ground so am holding them close to my chest until I get the final knock back! If that’d be of interest to you, give STW a nudge.
jimmyFull MemberHas it been a year already since the last one? Wow. Great stuff, inspiring, I don’t know how you get the time / energy.
bajsyckelFull MemberGreat stuff as ever @munrobiker evokes a mix of memories past and inspiration for the year ahead. Does that mean we get 2 of these threads this year?
GillesFull MemberOne day I will retire in Scotland and I want to be on one of those pictures.
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